Flat Lay Photos: Pictures of Flatlays

Flatlay photography is an easy and creative way to showcase groups of products, give a stunning snapshot of a work space, or just showcase thematic elements in an aesthetically rich way.

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colorful gift bag

Colorful Gift Bag


fruit and veggie flatlay

Fruit And Veggie Flatlay


toddler hands playing with colorful blocks

Toddler Hands Playing With Colorful Blocks


fall season flatlay

Fall Season Flatlay


a trio of natural soaps

A Trio Of Natural Soaps


healthy breakfast for two

Healthy Breakfast For Two


colored pencils on pink

Colored Pencils On Pink


spring in dirt with flower pedals

Spring In Dirt With Flower Pedals


childrens art activities

Childrens Art Activities


an engagment ring sits in a blue box

An Engagment Ring Sits In A Blue Box


be my valentine with roses

Be My Valentine With Roses


teacher flatlay

Teacher Flatlay


happy thanksgiving flatlay

Happy Thanksgiving Flatlay


pastel stationary

Pastel Stationary


flatlay of notebooks and a laptop keyboard

Flatlay Of Notebooks And A Laptop Keyboard


wrapped gift

Wrapped Gift


lavender house paint background

Lavender House Paint Background


sale

Sale


kid paint party

Kid Paint Party


cleaning supply flatlay bottom

Cleaning Supply Flatlay Bottom


romantic roses champagne lingerie

Romantic Roses Champagne Lingerie


vinyl record spinning

Vinyl Record Spinning


cleaning blue knolling flatlay

Cleaning Blue Knolling Flatlay


colorful fresh vegetables flatlay

Colorful Fresh Vegetables Flatlay


white pumpkin flatlay

White Pumpkin Flatlay


christmas berry wreath

Christmas Berry Wreath


drone knoll flatlay

Drone Knoll Flatlay


toddler drawing and painting

Toddler Drawing And Painting


holiday cards & gift wrap

Holiday Cards & Gift Wrap


heart shapes on pink

Heart Shapes On Pink


mobile contact us form

Mobile Contact Us Form


glitter and unicorn costume headband

Glitter And Unicorn Costume Headband


tea time with kitty cat

Tea Time With Kitty Cat


colorful toy gears

Colorful Toy Gears


happy halloween on orange flatlay

Happy Halloween On Orange Flatlay


kids painting and creating

Kids Painting And Creating


bright colored kids toys

Bright Colored Kids Toys


creating with reds

Creating With Reds


steaks oil salt knife and a cutting board

Steaks Oil Salt Knife And A Cutting Board


spilled roasted coffee beans

Spilled Roasted Coffee Beans


beauty products

Beauty Products


bridal wedding flatlay

Bridal Wedding Flatlay


cyber monday shopping deals

Cyber Monday Shopping Deals


education flatlay

Education Flatlay


lingerie champagne lipstick roses

Lingerie Champagne Lipstick Roses


pouring cream into coffee

Pouring Cream Into Coffee


red and green gooseberries against white

Red And Green Gooseberries Against White


colorful pens shown on white

Colorful Pens Shown On White


livingroom tray with plant and game controllers

Livingroom Tray With Plant And Game Controllers


wallet & cash

Wallet & Cash


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Tips for Your own flatlay photography

What makes this type of photography so popular is not just the look of the photography style, but that it’s relatively easy to do. Generally you don’t need to be a professional photographer to take a great flatlay image - an iPhone camera and good lighting will do!

Feel free to browse our database of flatlay images or check our tips below for creating your own beautiful pictures.

Shoot for a single color palette

Generally speaking - it’s best to select a colour pallette of about 2-3 unifying colours and work around those colors with varying patterns and textures. Having a predetermined pallette will help to unify the composition of the image and direct the mood of the piece. For example - object in navy blue and deep red will usually give the image a more somber feel to it whereas bright pinks and purples will make the image a bit more playful.

You’ll also want to make sure you use a neutral background colour as well. Most flatlay pictures use a white background, but feel free to experiment with black, grey or more muted wood tones as well. A neutral background colour will make the foreground items stand-out, complimenting the items and focusing your audience's attention towards your subjects.

Let the composition of your pictures tell a story

It’s important to consider the concept of narrative in composing flat-lay photographs. You may want to think of a “theme” before you begin and then select objects that work around this theme. For example - if your theme is “Cluttered Office” - you might choose to use objects like pens, notebooks and coffee cups. If your theme is “Brunch Time” - you might include items like toasted bagels and sparkling mimosas. Let your image tell a story through objects surrounding a common theme.

Experiment with Space and Lighting

Not all flatlay images are built the same. For some - a cluttered workspace might convey a sense of chaos to the audience while a more sparse use of objects with more negative space might give the viewer a sense of calming isolation.

With regards to lighting - it’s generally best to use calm, overhead lighting. You don’t want your lights to be too bright however, as this can wash-out some of the beauty of your colours and create jarring, odd shadows.

Natural light works best as well - especially in the morning when the sun has risen but is not yet in full force. If you’re looking for a more neutral, balanced lighting design, try going out on a day that’s a little bit cloudy to get a soft-light effect.